The College of Computing also has a tradition of a symbiosis between faculty and students: since the early years, older students have been assisting professors in research. Faculty members in the College of Computing have been receptive to new technology developed with students, rather than demanding outside ideas and "Not Invented Here" computer systems.[1]

The history of Georgia Tech's College of Computing spans over 43 years.[1] As a field of study, the concept began in 1963 when a group of faculty members led by Dr. Vladimir Slamecka and including Dr. Vernon Crawford, Dr. Nordiar Waldemar Ziegler, and Dr. William Atchison, noticed a symbiosis between departments. The group drafted an outline for a masters level program which combined library science, mathematics, and computer technology.[1] Upon acceptance by the Georgia Tech administration, the M.S. in Information Science was first offered in 1964 under the School of Information Science at Georgia Tech led by Dr. Slamecka.[1]

In 1970, the school began offering a minor degree program for all Georgia Tech students, and was renamed to the School of Information and Computer Science (ICS). Two years later in 1972, ICS expanded to offer an undergraduate degree for students. It also partnered with Emory University to create a joint graduate program in Biomedical Information and Computer Science, the first partnership of its kind.[1]

In 1979, ICS's first director and primary founder, Dr. Slamecka, retired from the position after 15 years. Dr. Ray Miller, IBM's Assistant Director of Mathematical Sciences, was hired in his place. Under Miller, the School of Information and Computer Science began a trend which began to move away from information science and towards computer science.[1]

In John Patrick Crecine's 1988 reorganization of the Institute, the School was broadened as the College of Computing, one of the school's five (and in 1998, six) colleges. Georgia Tech was the first university in the United States to have a College of Computing.[1] The school hired its first dean, Peter A. Freeman, in 1990,[7] and further expanded in 2005 with more divisions.[1]

In 2000, successful internet entrepreneur and Tech alum Chris Klaus donated $15 million towards the construction of a new building for the college.[8][9][10] At the time of Klaus' contribution, it was the fifth-largest contribution by an individual in Georgia Tech's history.[8] The building was officially opened on October 26, 2006.[11][12]

In June 2008, College of Computing Dean Richard DeMillo announced plans for his resignation, citing conflicts with Georgia Tech provost and interim president Gary Schuster. DeMillo was temporarily replaced by James D. Foley, a professor in the School of Interactive Computing, until a permanent replacement could be found.[14] On April 9, 2010, Zvi Galil was named the college's new dean.[2]

In March 2010, the division of Computational Science & Engineering (CSE) was also formalized into a school.[15]

In May 2013, the school announced that it will offer the first professional Online Master of Science degree in computer science (OMS CS) that can be earned completely through the massive online (MOOC) format in partnership with Udacity.[18] In August 2013, US President Barack Obama praised the school as “a national leader in computer science” that is offering a master's degree in computer science “at a fraction of the cost".[19]

The College of Computing is the third-highest of Georgia Tech's six colleges (behind the larger and older College of Engineering and College of Sciences) in research awards, with 139 proposals worth $93,737,529 resulting in 119 awards worth $14,579,392 in 2006.[23]

There are several organizations tied to or within the College of Computing that are primarily dedicated to research. These include several research groups and labs.[24] Other research-related organizations include: